【SMM PV News】CEC: Solar Capacity to Surpass Coal Power for the First Time in 2026

Published: Apr 28, 2026 17:36

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On April 28, the China Electricity Council (CEC) projected that solar installed capacity will surpass coal power for the first time in 2026, with combined wind and solar making up half of the total capacity by year-end. New capacity in 2026 is forecast to exceed 400GW (new energy >300GW). Total capacity will hit ~4,300GW by late 2026, with non-fossil energy at ~63% and coal dropping to ~31%. Additionally, National Energy Administration data shows renewable capacity reached 2,395GW (60.4% of the total) by the end of March. In Q1, renewable power accounted for 37.1% of total generation, with wind and solar combined exceeding 23% of total social electricity consumption.

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